C/W Florian Xhekaj - Laval Rocket, AHL (2023, 101st, MTL)

[montreal]

Mailloux Big Hit 0:50
Xhekaj Takes on 2 1:26
Xhekaj Fight 1:38
Farrell/ABB 2 on 0 2:20
Beck Nice Move 2:57
Beck Sets Up Kapanen 3:25
RHP Throwing Punches 3:31
Mailloux to Roy to Farrell Chance 4:37
Kapanen Shot in Close 4:48
Engstrom to Beck Chance 6:03
Mailloux Nice Move 6:45
Dauphin Goal 7:09
Kapanen Great Chance 7:54

 

[montreal]

Reinbacher Assist/Tuch Tip Goal 0:10
Xhekaj Nice Hit 0:40
Primeau Save 2:19
Reinbacher Rush/Nice Pass/Beck Chance 2:52
Roy Nice Pass 3:05
Xhekaj Throws Massive Hit 4:44
Primeau Save 4:56
Primeau Save 5:14
Xhekaj Scores a Beauty 7:06
Trudeau Assisat 7:43
Roy Goal 8:21

 

[KristichBabych]

What a goal by Xhekai… He is bigger and faster than at the start of the season… He is progressing well and he is used in any situation, pp, pk and like to hit a lot…Not the better fighter but he is a rookie and could have played in the ohl this season.. It’s been 15-20 years that a rookie score 20 goals and more plus 180 minutes in the AHL … Good year for him.

 

[LeProspector]

He’s going to be better than his brother (not like that’s difficult)

 

[Michoulicious]

Undrafted in his first year of eligibility.

Gets drafted in the 4th round.

6'4. He hits, he fights, he scores goals, he has underrated hands. He elevates in the playoffs. He's mean and fearless.

Look at that beauty backhand in the 3rd period of a pivotal game.



He 100% plays in the NHL. What is crazy is he keeps improving, like his brother... And at a crazy rate at that.

Montreal might have drafted their Tom Wilson... In the 4th round.

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

I think he is going to become an extremely effective NHLer soon. I can’t wait to see his first game with Montreal. You know he will do everything he can to try to instantly become a fan favorite

 

[HuGo Sham]

get ready for all the trade proposals from ..other fanbases.

Hughes would be an idiot to include him in any trade deals. 24 goals 175 pims, 6'4 - as a rookie in the A

 

[Legend123]

Tom Wilson but with half his production?

 

[Michoulicious]

Tom Wilson but with half his production?

Based on what? Draft pedigree?

-----

At 19 y old (March birthday), Wilson played 82 games in the NHL, scoring 3 goals and 10 points with 151 PIM.

At 20 years old, Wilson played 67 games in the NHL, scoring 4 goals and 17 points with 172 PIM.

At 21 y old, Wilson played 82 games in the NHL, scoring 7 goals and 23 points with 163 PIM.

------

At 20 y old (June Birthday), Xhekaj scored 24 goals and 35 points in the AHL with 175 PIM

We'll see next year but I think he'll find a way in Montreal's bottom 6 at some point next year.

His improvement curve is just really impressive. He is a difference maker in the AHL at 20 and what he brings to a team is rather unique, like Wilson.

These guys are rare and highly coveted.

 

[Chainshot]

He has not only made the most physical plays in the series but has the most skilled goal in the series.

 

[Junohockeyfan]

Nice to see him progress. Pretty goal. Not sure what #55 was doing there letting X skate by him.

X needs to put in some weight. Heostill a beanpole

 

[Doublechin]

Based on what? Draft pedigree?

-----

At 19 y old (March birthday), Wilson played 82 games in the NHL, scoring 3 goals and 10 points with 151 PIM.

At 20 years old, Wilson played 67 games in the NHL, scoring 4 goals and 17 points with 172 PIM.

At 21 y old, Wilson played 82 games in the NHL, scoring 7 goals and 23 points with 163 PIM.

------

At 20 y old (June Birthday), Xhekaj scored 24 goals and 35 points in the AHL with 175 PIM

We'll see next year but I think he'll find a way in Montreal's bottom 6 at some point next year.

His improvement curve is just really impressive. He is a difference maker in the AHL at 20 and what he brings to a team is rather unique, like Wilson.

These guys are rare and highly coveted.

I agree, rare and coveted, I was completely opposed to the pick, he was seen as a guy that wasn't a draft worthy candidate so when we drafted him, I figured oh boy, what a waste of a pick.

Fast forward two years and he's incredible, I'm shocked at how good he's gotten ever year, suddenly he's a rookie center playing PK in the AHL being in a playoff push and scored 24 goals playing bottom 6 minutes.

Our head scout called him a unicorn at draft day, we laughed, now he laughs

 

[Chainshot]

Nice to see him progress. Pretty goal. Not sure what #55 was doing there letting X skate by him.

X needs to put in some weight. Heostill a beanpole

Clague was channeling Hab tank commander in the third period and had a hand in the last three Laval goals.

 

[Legend123]

Based on what? Draft pedigree?

-----

At 19 y old (March birthday), Wilson played 82 games in the NHL, scoring 3 goals and 10 points with 151 PIM.

At 20 years old, Wilson played 67 games in the NHL, scoring 4 goals and 17 points with 172 PIM.

At 21 y old, Wilson played 82 games in the NHL, scoring 7 goals and 23 points with 163 PIM.

------

At 20 y old (June Birthday), Xhekaj scored 24 goals and 35 points in the AHL with 175 PIM

We'll see next year but I think he'll find a way in Montreal's bottom 6 at some point next year.

His improvement curve is just really impressive. He is a difference maker in the AHL at 20 and what he brings to a team is rather unique, like Wilson.

These guys are rare and highly coveted.

lower ur expectations lmao

expecting a tom wilson fromn a dime a dozen prospect is just ludicrious. Most likely, hes a full time fourth liner or at best a third liner. Wilson is a top 6 player on every single team in the NHL

 

[Michoulicious]

lower ur expectations lmao

expecting a tom wilson fromn a dime a dozen prospect is just ludicrious. Most likely, hes a full time fourth liner or at best a third liner. Wilson is a top 6 player on every single team in the NHL

Everybody's been sleeping on this kid and he's blowing expectations.

I know a gamer when I see one. Maybe he won't be a top 6 player like Tom Wilson is/was in his prime, but I am not the one who's going to bet against that kid... He certainly could become something very special.

I know a gamer when I see one... He's going to blow your mind if you think he's a "dime a dozen" prospect. He's not.

Let's talk about it again in 3-4 years.

 

[jfhabs]

lower ur expectations lmao

expecting a tom wilson fromn a dime a dozen prospect is just ludicrious. Most likely, hes a full time fourth liner or at best a third liner. Wilson is a top 6 player on every single team in the NHL

I hate to put a cap on a player's ultimate potential, but let's say he has <5% chance to be a top 6 player one day

 

[viceroy]

...he was seen as a guy that wasn't a draft worthy candidate so when we drafted him, I figured oh boy, what a waste of a pick.

Our head scout called him a unicorn at draft day, we laughed, now he laughs

Wasn't draft worthy? we laughed? WTF? I liked him since I found out about him which was maybe a couple of weeks before we picked him at the Draft. Was intrigued mostly when I found out Arber had a kid brother. Loved his attitude and everything he went through just to get a spot in the OHL kinda like his brother. I was delighted we got him in the 4th despite what the cognoscenti on our boards were saying.

 

[Legend123]

Everybody's been sleeping on this kid and he's blowing expectations.

I know a gamer when I see one. Maybe he won't be a top 6 player like Tom Wilson is/was in his prime, but I am not the one who's going to bet against that kid... He certainly could become something very special.

I know a gamer when I see one... He's going to blow your mind if you think he's a "dime a dozen" prospect. He's not.

Let's talk about it again in 3-4 years.

Good. You see a gamer in him. I hope ur right but most the time you'd, or anyone in general, would be wrong. Odds are he won't be anything more than a 4th/3rd liner or ahler. And yes he's a nothing special prospect. Doesn't mean he won't be a star even. If it was that simple, then players like point who weren't super prospects wouldn't have become nhl stars. You just never know even with the worst prospects. That's why you keep them around like magic beans.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

I think he ends up a 3rd/4th liner in the NHL, what's cool with him is that his style of play is very translatable

 

[Leafshater67]

lower ur expectations lmao

expecting a tom wilson fromn a dime a dozen prospect is just ludicrious. Most likely, hes a full time fourth liner or at best a third liner. Wilson is a top 6 player on every single team in the NHL

Dime a dozen?

Ok, I’ll bite. How many AHL rookies had 20 goals + and almost 200 PIM’s?

He’s probably a middle 6’er at best but let’s not act like guys who play this way with his skill set grow on trees.

 

[Benstheman]

Whatever he becomes (top 6, 3rd/4th line), he will bring something we need. He has a lot of translatable tools. Even more if he can make it as a C.

Pretty interesting prospect.

 

[BLNY]

Undrafted in his first year of eligibility.

Gets drafted in the 4th round.

6'4. He hits, he fights, he scores goals, he has underrated hands. He elevates in the playoffs. He's mean and fearless.

Look at that beauty backhand in the 3rd period of a pivotal game.



He 100% plays in the NHL. What is crazy is he keeps improving, like his brother... And at a crazy rate at that.

Montreal might have drafted their Tom Wilson... In the 4th round.

I think he's going to end up the better Xhekaj.

 

[Baksfamous112]

What the hell is going on here? Xhekaj better than Wilson? Have we lost our collective mind?

This guy is going to be an NHLer. Probably a perfect 4th line - Maybe even a 3rd line if all the stars are aligned but Florian doesn’t have top 6 potential.

 

[Michoulicious]

What the hell is going on here? Xhekaj better than Wilson? Have we lost our collective mind?

This guy is going to be an NHLer. Probably a perfect 4th line - Maybe even a 3rd line if all the stars are aligned but Florian doesn’t have top 6 potential.

Nobody said better.

 

[Baksfamous112]

Nobody said better.

You’re right but you literally compared him to Wilson which is just as laughable.

Undrafted in his first year of eligibility.

Gets drafted in the 4th round.

6'4. He hits, he fights, he scores goals, he has underrated hands. He elevates in the playoffs. He's mean and fearless.

Look at that beauty backhand in the 3rd period of a pivotal game.



He 100% plays in the NHL. What is crazy is he keeps improving, like his brother... And at a crazy rate at that.

Montreal might have drafted their Tom Wilson... In the 4th round.

Based on what? Draft pedigree?

-----

At 19 y old (March birthday), Wilson played 82 games in the NHL, scoring 3 goals and 10 points with 151 PIM.

At 20 years old, Wilson played 67 games in the NHL, scoring 4 goals and 17 points with 172 PIM.

At 21 y old, Wilson played 82 games in the NHL, scoring 7 goals and 23 points with 163 PIM.

------

At 20 y old (June Birthday), Xhekaj scored 24 goals and 35 points in the AHL with 175 PIM

We'll see next year but I think he'll find a way in Montreal's bottom 6 at some point next year.

His improvement curve is just really impressive. He is a difference maker in the AHL at 20 and what he brings to a team is rather unique, like Wilson.

These guys are rare and highly coveted.